Injuries Update

news.com.au Collingwood are set to regain No.1 ruckman Darren Jolly for the AFL Anzac Day blockbuster against Essendon after a Monday morning fitness test. Magpies coaching director Rodney Eade told FOX FOOTY's AFL360 that Jolly was on track for the Thursday clash at the MCG. Jolly has been out of action since the round-two win over Carlton with rib damage. The test involved Jolly practising ruckwork against an opponent. "He ran last week, so it was obviously a bit more of a physical test this morning to see whether he can stretch,'' Eade said. "There are no signs (of soreness), so he'll be available ... he's up for selection.''Essendon will definitely be without forward Michael Hurley (ankle) and veteran defender Dustin Fletcher (groin), although Bombers senior assistant coach Mark Thompson told AFL 360 that Hurley wouldn't be sidelined for long. "We're pretty lucky - he hasn't got any really significant injury," Thompson said. "He had the x-ray and it's not broken - he'll probably platy the week after."  news.com.au Essendon's vaunted key-position depth will face another major test this week, with Michael Hurley and Dustin Fletcher to miss the annual ANZAC Day blockbuster against Collingwood. Hurley suffered an ankle injury in Saturday's win over St Kilda and will be a definite absentee against the Magpies, with veteran defender Fletcher (groin) almost certain to sit out a second straight game. Both are likely to return for the round-six clash against GWS Giants. Key forward Stewart Crameri is the obvious replacement for Hurley, while boom recruit Joe Daniher is in the mix to make his AFL debut before a packed house at the MCG against the Magpies. And skipper Jobe Watson is confident that injury-plagued Scott Gumbleton will be able to back up from a five-day break after kicking four goals against the Saints in his first senior game of 2013.

SUPERFOOTY COLLINGWOOD'S Luke Ball will return to football in the VFL on Friday more than 12 months after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament against Carlton in Round 3 last year. Ball had a full reconstruction and was set to return for Round 1, but suffered hamstring soreness after a piece of it was removed and used as a graft in his damaged knee. The Magpies were forced to reduce Ball's training workload so he could overcome tenderness in the hamstring, but he's set to play Bendigo Gold at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Friday night. Tomorrow's training session will be Collingwood's only one for the week as the team prepares for Thursday's Anzac Day clash with Essendon at the MCG. Club footballer manager Geoff Walsh said yesterday the availability of players would become clearer after the light session. He said he expected ruckman Darren Jolly, who has been sidelined for two games with a rib injury, to be available. Veteran midfielder Ben Johnson, who was ruled out of the weekend clash with Richmond because of a calf injury, is a chance to return. Nathan Brown, who suffered a groin injury against the Tigers, and Tyson Goldsack, who withdrew from the game because of a calf complaint, must prove their fitness at tomorrow's session. "They will be tested on the track for their fitness," Walsh said. "We won't know about a lot of the players until we have the one session on the track, but we are thinking that Jolly will play. "We think Goldy will be right because he didn't miss by too much on Saturday with some calf soreness."Small forwards Andrew Krakouer and Alan Didak have been playing the VFL because of interrupted pre-seasons and it will be up to coach Nathan Buckley and his match committee to decide whether they have earned a recall. Walsh said captain Nick Maxwell would probably be out for another two to three weeks with a broken wrist. Dayne Beams (quad) and former Hawthorn player Clinton Young (hamstring) are also about two or three weeks away from resuming.